Seasons' Sippings: A Feast of Georgia's Craft Beer for Fall

SNEAK PEAK! Coming soon, I’ll have some new craft beer pairings to share with y’all, including seasonal deliciousness scheduled for the Brewer’s Association website craftbeer.com in October. And I've partnered with Peach State Ale Trail to provide some syndicated and original content!

In the meantime, you and I both can start planning our holiday craft beer “to drink” lists with these local offerings from breweries and brewpubs all around Georgia!

Here's what Georgia had to say when I asked what's on tap for Fall!Editor's Note: Although attempts were made to include all Georgia breweries and brewpubs in this list, some responses were not received prior to publication deadline when solicited for comment. Updates will be added as new information becomes available.

Visit for a bite and a pint, or check your local growler shop for tap selections.

Rick Tanner's Grille & Bar/Cherry Street Brewing Cooperative: “We will have a Pumpkin Pie Porter coming out this month and then our holiday Feliz Naviquad Belgian ale around Christmas. We will also be Releasing our Dylan's Dubbel and Hoppy Balboa Dbl IPA this year."

Max Lagers: “MaxFest Oktoberfest will tap Sept 20. Other upcoming beers: The Gremlin Baltic Porter, Harvest Ale, Old 320 Barley Wine. Harvest is a deep red beer with a balance of toasted malt and citrusy hops. Baltic is a collab with Gremlin Growlers with smoky/coffee notes and will likely be wood-aged. Old 320 is an American-style Barleywine which I haven't brewed in 4 years, but will likely stay true to the original. It’s won several ACATs in the past.”

Twains: “We'll have out AutumnFest Ale, and at least one more, but we haven't decided yet. Tuesday September 9 at 7 pm, we will be tapping a collaboration beer with Second Self, a Summer Saison. We can't wait to see you there!”

5 Seasons: "We'll have our annual Oktoberfest Lager release. And we do a huge Oktoberfest celebration. At 5 North it is on Saturday, September 27, and at 5 Westside it will be on Sunday the 28th.

At the Westside location, we have an English-style IPA coming on, a new Saison--Waterlilies Saison--inspired by the art of Monet, and an oak-aged Helles Bock that is a tip of the cap to the first commercial brewery in the history of GA. We also have a whiskey barrel-aged Belgian Quad that we will finally pull out of our Cellar as it approaches a year of aging.

At 5 North our Black Beauty will be ready soon (this is our interpretation of what the music of Miles Davis from 1971-1973 tastes like). Our Dubbel will be ready soon and we'll barrel age a good bit of it too.

At Slice & Pint, our barrel-aged Bad Decisions Trippel will be ready in two weeks. And a fall Belgian Brown ale will go on tap mid-September. Our Oktoberfest Lager will start pouring late September."

Blue Tarp: "We will be releasing our Oktoberfest (as of yet named only Oktoberfest) on Oct. 11 at the Tarp (on draft). BlueTarp Oktoberfest will be available on draft in and around Decatur on and after the Oct. 11. We will be holding a special Oktoberfest themed tasting to celebrate. Our Oktoberfest is a traditional Marzen lagered for 8 weeks coming in at 6.0% ABV and 26 IBUs."Eventide:"Confirmed for a Fall seasonal release we will have a Red/Amber ale that was made for and named after our Brand Manager (and CEO's wife) Haley. It will be a slight departure from the Oktoberfest and pumpkin styles that are prevalent during this time of year but it will remain a nice, malty offering that, like most of our beers, is very drinkable. I'm still working on the flavor profile for our Winter release, but definitely check back soon for that. Also, time permitting, I'd like to see another one off (like our El Dorado ipa) hit the market."Monday Night: “Gun Show comes out Monday Sept. 8, and Bourbon Barrel Drafty Kilt this Winter!”

Orpheus: "The response to Hop Experiment #1 was so strong that we've actually altered our seasonal IPA plan. Hop X #1 will be reappearing soon (with very slight alteration) as Life.Death.Life.Truth., and will be our Fall IPA. We're also brewing Sykophantes, a Fall sour that's getting over 500 pounds of figs and a lot of dark candy syrup. To highlight the figs, it will be richer and sweeter than any other beer we've made yet. The spiced IPA that had been slated for Winter will be a one-off (if we can fit it in the schedule). In late fall our 13% Imperial Stout, The 12th Labor, will appear."

Red Brick Brewing: “Aside form Thick Silky which will be released mid month (Sept.), 21st Anniversary Rum Barrel Aged Dark Saison will be out in early October, and we'll have Divine Bovine (formerly Sacred Cow) out in November. I think those would be excellent holiday beers!”

Second Self: “The Saison is our seasonal we will launch with. Then we will have a Molé Porter. This was adopted from a family recipe. There are many flavors in the beer so I keep them restrained to not overwhelm. I focused more on the spices and chilies to get a rounded balanced flavor. Some nuttiness and chocolate from the malt then extra nibs.”

Sweetwater: "Whiplash will be replacing Motor Boat as our fall seasonal. Well balanced at 6.2% ABV and 55 IBUs, Whiplash is a dry hopped version of a pale Belgian ale. This white IPA gives off subtle notes from the Belgian yeast complimented by a citrus and piney hop finish.

Hop Hash, a double IPA infused with hop hash – will be making its way onto to shelves throughout SweetWater’s footprint this October, and will be a year-round offering. Focusing heavy on the hops, Hop Hash is brewed with a hefty dose of American citrus hops, as well as Cascade, Centennial, and Simcoe hops along with the hash blend. The hop bill exudes a creeping bitterness up front from the Centennial, followed by the flavor and aroma from the hash packing a stealthy, smooth citrus finish at 7.8-percent alcohol by volume."

Three Taverns: “Heavy Bells (a Bourbon barrel aged Quasimodo) will be released toward the end of September. Theophan The Recluse comes out Oct., and Feest Noel released will be in Nov. Cheers!”

Wild Heaven: “A Marzen brewed with Madeira soaked mission figs called Autumn Defense should debut mid month (Sept.) around 5.5%, and will be draft only. We will also be doing Ode to Mercy Winter Ale in November, which is usually ready around Thanksgiving.”

Creature Comforts:"We do not have any seasonal offerings until 2015, but we do recommend Reclaimed Rye for the Fall season. The spice character from the rye and subtle oak that comes from aging that beer on french oak make it pair great with food for Fall. We are also going to be releasing our first ever bottle releases this fall so watch for those. We will have a 750 ml of a collaboration beer that we did as well as a 500 ml from from our Curiosity Series. More info will be coming to the public about these two shortly."Burnt Hickory Brewery: “Die Kreuzen. Like the late 80's band from which it gets a moniker, this beer is so complex it's hard place a label on. German for "The Crossing" (or "The Crosses, depends on the German ya talk to), Die Kreuzen is a lactose, pumpkin, roasty, high octane imperial porter. All neck braces and ear plugs are optional. ALSO. Look for variants of our already brewed Xmas delight, Noggin Knocker coming early for the Halloween season. Gourd Knocker comes in at a fearful 12.5% and is dosed like a bat out of hell with Pumpkin spices. Also on the agenda are Charred Walls of the Damned. It's our 13.5% Barrel aged Quad. Look for THREE variants and maybe even an official bottle release!”

Jekyll: “We have an Oktoberfest coming out! ETA should be sometime this month and will be draught only. It is a traditional Marzen style. Just released an India Black Lager (draft only) in the tap room as of Sept. 3. We also have the Barley Wine coming out in 22oz bottles. It is a English style 10.8 abv. Bottled conditioned in 22oz and is very limited. Josh will sign and number each bottle. The Stout and Smoked Porter will also be released later this year but will only be available on draft.”

Red Hare: “Hasenpfeffer Oktoberfest!! Our Fall Seasonal Hasenpfeffer Oktoberfest is available right now. We stuck to tradition on this one, German hops and malts and a special yeast from a famous Munich brewery. Nutty and toasted caramelized notes, at 5.5% makes a good transition from light summer beers to hearty winter beers. Sometime this fall we will be releasing Rabbit's Reserve Fresh Hopped IPA, and our Winter Seasonal Sticky Stout (Oatmeal Stout) will be out in late October!"

Reformation: “Keep an eye out for Stark (a porter) in Oct or come by the Keeping Room & taste it early. We are also brewing an Octoberfest this week, but it will be destined for the Keeping Room this Autumn. As far as Winter Scout, it's a possibility we do a pretty limited release in time for Christmas and the New Year. Maybe only available at Barrel & Barley. We're still trying to get our Anchor line of beers into the market, which should be complete by next Spring. And then our full line of seasonal brews will be coming shortly after.”

Terrapin: “Pumpkinfest is out now. Midnight Monk Black Belgian Style IPA is out this week. So Fresh and So Green Green will be out in October, but you can try it before everyone at Hop Harvest this year on Oct 11; Terrapin Reserve Imperial Pumpkin Pie Porter releases Sept. 2.”

Eagle Creek: "We have a smash hit for our fall seasonal. Our fall release is a true dedication to where we come from, and the South as a whole. It's called River Street Praline Brown. It captures the culture, flavors, and scents of Savannah and most notably their famed Praline candies. It's a huge Brown ale, and has taken off like crazy!"Jailhouse: “Soon to be released is Restraining Order Porter, a porter brewed with fresh figs. Then in October we bring back Breakout Stout.”

Macon Beer Company: "The winner of last year's Macon Octoberfest homebrew competition, CJ Holmes, won first prize and the chance to have Macon Beer Company brew his recipe and offer it at this years' festival as the premier beer at the Macon Octoberfest Georgia craft beer garden. This year's fall seasonal (coming out in late October) is CJ's peach IPA called Macon HOMEBREW. We used 20 gallons of peach puree donated by Lane Southern Orchards. Macon Beer Company is committed to donating all proceeds from the sale of the beer to the charity New City (located downtown Macon), selected because of their commitment to the community and diversity."

O’Dempsey’s: “You should be able to find some O'Dempsey's casks out and about later in the year, but they'll be hard to get to your table. We don't have any new packaged brews in the making so here is hoping you'll be able to sample some of the casks!”

Omaha: “We will have 750 mL corked and caged bombers of The General’s Barrel-aged out by Winter and we will also have a milk stout for the Winter season.”

Service Brewing Co.: Officially opening for tours Sept. 13, their initial launch is a Pilsner, and helps raise funds for Healing 4 Heroes. "Come 13 Sep for tour. $1 from each glass sold will be donated to @Healing4heroes!"

Strawn: “We are going to have a fresh hop IPA that should be ready late Oct.” More information TBA. Keep an eye on Facebook for announcements.

Southbound: "Lots of great stuff coming! Moonlight Drive returns in November, but for now we have Fade to Red, Secrets Shared, & soon Clusterflies! Fade to Red is an India Red Ale 7.3 ABV and it's a collaboration with @Rock1061. Secrets Shared is a Wild IPA (with Brett) yummmm."

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What beers are you planning to add to your craft beer holiday table in the coming months? Do you have any local craft beer Fall or seasonals on your “to drink” list? Let me know your favorites in the comments or on TWITTER | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM